Spurrier's Call-In Show Blog
posted by Scott Hood, Tuesday, November 24, 2009
FIRST SEGMENT: USC watched plenty of tape last week during the off week. USC had a lot better practice Tuesday than Monday when the Gamecocks practiced coming off 3 days off. Win over Clemson would make it a successful season for USC. It's an important game. Injury Report: USC is fairly healthy. Few injuries on offense. Nearly all serious injuries have been on defense.
SECOND SEGMENT: No turnovers by defense in 4 games. Clesmon has 16 INT by safeties, USC 0. Big difference. Turnovers will be key as always. All 5 losses to teams with winning records. Good, closee team. No personal agendas this year unlike last year. Nearly all players eligible to return will be back. No talk of going pro unlike last year. Noon kickoff is earliest of the season. UK and Arkansas at 12:20 p.m. ET.
THIRD SEGMENT: Virginia success with read option and Wildcat formation? USC will try to run the ball. Should have stuck with the run a little better than last week. USC has run the ball better than last year. Some sacks attributable to SG holding onto the ball too long. Miles and Giles both averaging 5.0+ yards per catch. However, USC is last in sacks, which affects rushing yardage. When is the best time to call a timeout? SOS not afraid to use them in the course of the game. Must take advantage of scoring chances with TDs not FGs.
FOURTH SEGMENT: Will we see Alshon and Tori together on field at same time? They did a little bit v. UF. They're playing same position. LeCorn running around some. Tori may try to work at a couple of different positions. Clemson throws the ball mostly to Spiller, Ford and TE Palmer. Spiller had k/off TD and key Pick-6 by McDaniel. Will Travian Robertson redshirt? yes. Suffered season-ending injury in 4th game. Medical redshirt possible. Will Paulk get 6th year? USC will likely request one.
FIFTH SEGMENT: Will hating Clemson help USC beat them: SOS doesn't think so. Have to play well and execute. Hard to play everybody. Jarvis Giles deserves more opportunities. Hopefully, USC will have a more 'set' team on offense and defense. SOS wants 5 O-linemen as opposed to making changes weekly.
SIXTH SEGMENT: Steve Taneyhill visited the USC football offices on Tuesday. When should USC-Clemson game be played? Open the season with the game? How about return to Big Thursday? ESPN deal for that? What are bowl expectations? SOS didn't know. Just wants to focus on beating Clemson.
SEVENTH SEGMENT: How has Stephen Garcia done this week? He has consistently performed better thsi year. SOS likes how the Clemson people refer to the game as the state championship. If USC wins, the Gamecocks will truly be state champions since they have also beaten SC State, the top I-AA program in the state right now.
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Steve Spurrier held his weekly call-in show on Tuesday night, four days before the Clemson game. Here is a summary of what he said:
FIRST SEGMENT: USC watched plenty of tape last week during the off week. USC had a lot better practice Tuesday than Monday when the Gamecocks practiced coming off 3 days off. Win over Clemson would make it a successful season for USC. It's an important game. Injury Report: USC is fairly healthy. Few injuries on offense. Nearly all serious injuries have been on defense.
SECOND SEGMENT: No turnovers by defense in 4 games. Clesmon has 16 INT by safeties, USC 0. Big difference. Turnovers will be key as always. All 5 losses to teams with winning records. Good, closee team. No personal agendas this year unlike last year. Nearly all players eligible to return will be back. No talk of going pro unlike last year. Noon kickoff is earliest of the season. UK and Arkansas at 12:20 p.m. ET.
THIRD SEGMENT: Virginia success with read option and Wildcat formation? USC will try to run the ball. Should have stuck with the run a little better than last week. USC has run the ball better than last year. Some sacks attributable to SG holding onto the ball too long. Miles and Giles both averaging 5.0+ yards per catch. However, USC is last in sacks, which affects rushing yardage. When is the best time to call a timeout? SOS not afraid to use them in the course of the game. Must take advantage of scoring chances with TDs not FGs.
FOURTH SEGMENT: Will we see Alshon and Tori together on field at same time? They did a little bit v. UF. They're playing same position. LeCorn running around some. Tori may try to work at a couple of different positions. Clemson throws the ball mostly to Spiller, Ford and TE Palmer. Spiller had k/off TD and key Pick-6 by McDaniel. Will Travian Robertson redshirt? yes. Suffered season-ending injury in 4th game. Medical redshirt possible. Will Paulk get 6th year? USC will likely request one.
FIFTH SEGMENT: Will hating Clemson help USC beat them: SOS doesn't think so. Have to play well and execute. Hard to play everybody. Jarvis Giles deserves more opportunities. Hopefully, USC will have a more 'set' team on offense and defense. SOS wants 5 O-linemen as opposed to making changes weekly.
SIXTH SEGMENT: Steve Taneyhill visited the USC football offices on Tuesday. When should USC-Clemson game be played? Open the season with the game? How about return to Big Thursday? ESPN deal for that? What are bowl expectations? SOS didn't know. Just wants to focus on beating Clemson.
SEVENTH SEGMENT: How has Stephen Garcia done this week? He has consistently performed better thsi year. SOS likes how the Clemson people refer to the game as the state championship. If USC wins, the Gamecocks will truly be state champions since they have also beaten SC State, the top I-AA program in the state right now.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.